White Snake
demonic Chinese single tradition · 1
The White Snake is a demon that transforms into a beautiful woman in white to abduct young men, satisfying her lust and eating their heart and liver. Over time, the demon's original malicious intent was removed from the story, and the focus shifted to the romance between the White Snake and a human male.
When
- First attested
- 500 CE
- Attested period
- 500 – 2020
- Historical notes
- Stories involving snakes became frequent in China from the medieval period onwards.
Relationships
- co occurs with
- small white snakes
- syncretized with
- Lamia
- manifested by
- lady in white, Bai Niangzi
Mentioned by
Sources
wikipedia (1)
Source passages
“Neighbors said that other than a large white snake often seen coiled under the tree, there was nothing there.”
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